The organisation was founded on 16 March 1971 in Kruger's Bar, Dunquin, County Kerry, Ireland,[2][3] by Michael Hardman, Graham Lees, Jim Makin, and Bill Mellor, who were opposed to the growing mass production of beer and the homogenisation of the British brewing industry.

[4] Following the formation of the Campaign, the first annual general meeting took place in 1972, at the Rose Inn in Coton Road, Nuneaton.

Other early influential members included Christopher Hutt, author of Death of the English Pub, who succeeded Hardman as chairman, Frank Baillie, author of The Beer Drinker's Companion, and later the many times Good Beer Guide editor, Roger Protz.

[citation needed] In 1991, CAMRA had 30,000 members across the UK and abroad and, a year later, helped to launch the European Beer Consumers Union.

[citation needed] CAMRA's campaigns include promoting small brewing and pub businesses, reforming licensing laws, reducing tax on beer, and stopping continued consolidation among local British brewers.

[5] It also makes an effort to promote less common varieties of beer, including stout, porter, and mild,[6] as well as traditional cider and perry.

Unlike the Great British Beer Festival, the Winter event does not have a permanent venue and is rotated throughout the country every three years.

The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions which are then visited by several individuals who agree the best using a scoring system that considers beer quality, aesthetic and welcome.

[12] There are also the Pub Design Awards, which are held in association with English Heritage and the Victorian Society.